18 Interview Questions to Discover if Dave Futch is the Right Agent for You

Looking for an experienced local Maui Agent to sell your home?

Take a look at our interview with Dave Futch to get to know him personally and see if he’s the right match for you.

So, you’ve made a decision to sell your home, possibly one of the largest financial transactions of your lifetime. You need to hire a real estate agent and you need to know who they are and which one will best represent you and your needs.

To make things easier, we’ve put together a quick interview on leading local Maui real estate agent Dave Futch to see if you’d enjoy working together as a team during this process.

1. So Dave, how long have you been living on Maui?

I’ve been living on Maui for 31 years, since 1988.

2. What inspired you to move here?

Windsurfing was the initial impetus, then the discovery of the earnings potential from the business of real estate. Then I discovered the Maui lifestyle, which is incredible if you embrace the opportunities within the communities.

Maui has a tendency to attract the most talented people in all of the genres. Whether you’re into art, music, Hawaiiana, surfing, kitesurfing, hiking, horseback riding, scuba, farming, organics, sustainability or other interests, Maui has residents that are experts in any of these fields and communities that are welcoming to new people who share the common interests.

3. When did you first decide to become a Real Estate Agent and Why?

I first decided to become an Agent in 1993, to help some friends to buy and sell their homes.

I really enjoy the feeling of gratitude, happiness, and satisfaction I receive from people after I have helped them achieve their dreams and goals!

4. What have you learned about real estate on Maui since then?

I’ve learned that being a real estate agent is not just about buying or selling houses, knowing your inventory or even maintaining an elevated level of skill in the art of negotiation.

I’ve learned that much of the business is being a behavioral analyst and being able to handle a client’s extreme emotional state as they move through challenging aspects of a transaction. It’s important to understand that an agent is supporting people through a very major transition in their life.

5. What are the top 3 things that make you unique and different from other agents?

Compassion and empathy are important to me. My approach is rooted the discovery of the client’s projected Maui lifestyle, connecting them with the community that will share common interests, in both work and play.

I am in no rush to open or close a transaction. The focus is on the client’s needs and maintaining integrity and ethical behavior. I do realize that should not be a unique virtue but it is so important to me that I mention it at the risk of being redundant.

And lastly, thirty years of experience avails me to a deeper understanding of the business, which in turn enables me to provide experienced-based solutions to the twists and turns that are inevitable in any real estate transaction.

6. What have you accomplished that you are most proud of?

In business: Voted Realtor of the Year, many sales achievement awards, graduating from the Leadership Academy.

In the community: Chairing the Haleakala Waldorf School’s High School Initiatives committee, which ultimately opened the high school and has a 100% record of graduates going to college.

And in my personal life: Maintaining a happy marriage of 30 years with an extraordinary and delightful wife, and with her, raising an amazingly smart, beautiful, respectful and compassionate daughter.

Dave Futch receiving the Realtor of the Year Award, together with his wife, Andrea and daughter, Sabrina

7. What do you love most about living on Maui?

I love the interesting people, the moderate climate, the natural beauty and the joy of surfing, kitesurfing and playing golf.

8. How do you actively engage within the Maui community?

I enjoy serving on various non-profit boards, including my own Homeowner’s Association, the Maui Executives Association and the Hawaii Association of Realtors. I am a past board member of 12 years at the Haleakala Waldorf School. I am a volunteer with the Surfrider Foundation and member of the Chamber of Commerce, attending many of their functions and a supporter of the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, Hawaii Public Radio and Manao Radio.

Dave Futch being sworn in as a Board Director for the Realtors Association of Maui

9. How familiar are you with the different areas of Maui? Do you specialize in any areas, in particular?

Having lived on Maui since 1988, I’ve become familiar with all of the different areas of Maui. However, I am a specialist in Upcountry and the North Shore.

10. Why did you choose to be an agent at Hawaii Life?

I was with another company and experienced a massive change in the organizational structure, which was a departure from my philosophical point of view. I moved to Hawaii Life because they are extremely successful, very progressive, and give back to the community with their support of important non-profit organizations.

Hawaii Life is run by extremely intelligent, friendly people who, despite their highly skilled, technical savvy, are relaxed. Metaphorically speaking they, “operate the business while being barefoot.”

11. What’s your proven track record in regards to successful property sales on Maui?

Last year, I was involved in 30 transactions, 25, the year before and 20 the year before that.

The testimonials speak for themselves. Although I have been operating with a comprehensive advertising and marketing plan, approximately 60% of my business comes from repeat and referral clients.

12. What’s your strategy or marketing plan for selling properties?

The key to marketing success is leveraging the Hawaii Life technology. Their stats are impressive and by association, so are mine. I am supported by HL’s Create Team, 20 employees working to make our listings shine…it is like an advertising agency within the real estate company.

Separately, I have an incredible marketing manager who helps develop my strategy and designs marketing materials and campaigns for my listings.

13. How wide is your professional network of people that work together with you?

Having been a Realtor on Maui for nearly 30 years, I have helped many clients prepare their homes for the market and having built and remodeled many homes myself, I have compiled and maintained a list of proven contractors, attorneys, engineers, consultants and more, who are all professionals.

14. How much do you charge?

Sellers: Agency fees are always negotiable. Because I am a full-time agent with a track record of selling homes for 98% of the list price, and with an average of the other agents’ closing being at 92%, I believe that this, together with the ability to manage complex transactions, qualifies me to be an agent worthy of a 6% of sale price commission plus General Excise Tax.

The testimonials indicate that Sellers are happy with how things are handled and the compensation that goes along with it.

Buyers are not charged — all compensation comes from the Sellers.

15. What kind of guarantee do you offer?

If the home doesn’t sell, I work for free.

Also, if a client’s life takes a turn in a different direction and they need to discontinue working with me for any reason, I am prepared to step away, regardless of the contractual timelines.

16. Do you have client references?

I have many past client testimonials, take a look on my website

Get comfortable, because there are so many by now!

17. What haven’t I asked you that I need to know? Any other advice and/or tips for me?

It is extremely important to work with people who you share a common philosophy. Before becoming committed to one another, we need to know we will play well in the sandbox.

18. If I choose you as my Agent, what’s the first thing we need to do to get started?

The first step is for us to sit down and clearly define your goals, wishes, and needs. From there, we develop a strategy to reach these goals. The client manages the decisions and the agent manages the process.

If you’d like for us to meet and talk further about the sale of your home, please get in touch with me on 808 280 9600, I’d love to hear from you!

Mahalo for your time, Dave!